Through Sat 8/10
Don’t know when I’ve seen so many happy people in one place, as exemplified at Ohio Light Opera’s production of Girl Crazy by the Gershwins — George doing the music, while Ira contributes the lyrics. How many Broadway shows can boast of so many standards: “Bidin’ My Time,” “Embraceable You,” “Sam and Delilah,” “I Got Rhythm” and “But Not for Me.” And if that isn’t enough, there are two HUGE dance sequences — tap dancing, that is, in which every face visible is wreathed in big smiles (Both dancers and audience).
The plot itself is kind of skinny, but when it was new (1930), that wasn’t exactly the most important part. There is a plot, but it might at best be termed “slightly flimsy.” However, it does hold together, and provides a framework for the fabulous songs and the above mentioned dancing.
Somehow, Danny Churchill’s dad, now resident in New York, has come by a huge ranch, just outside the town of Custerville, Arizona. So Dad sends Danny (via taxi) to Custerville in order to get him away from the glitter and gaiety of the big city. Sadly, the town has been without any resident women for some time now. Well, actually, there is one “borrowed” female: Molly, the local postmistress, although she commutes from a nearby town and has a boyfriend of her own already.
So Danny (Spencer Reese, also the choreographer), along with his driver Gieber (Kyle Yampiro), decides to turn the ranch into a dude ranch. Good idea! They plan to have a casino, dance hall (with real girls) and other entertainments. Danny hires Kate Fothergill (Yvonne Trobe) and her gambler husband Slick (Brad Baron) to manage the new venture. Into this volatile mixture comes Molly’s beau Sam (Alan Smith) who has won $6000 from a gambling venture,. He visits Custerville to reclaim her.
The overture contains fragments of all those songs (plus a few others) that’ll bring smiles to your face as you listen to it. The OLO Orchestra is ably conducted by Steven Byess, and with stage direction by Steven Daigle, you know you’re in for a treat. So sit back, relax and prepare to enjoy.
The design team is, as usual, first rate. Kiah Kayser designed the versatile sets that are, diversely, the town of Custerville, a dude ranch and various locations in Mexico. The dazzling and colorful costumes from Myron Elliott are made even more noticeable by the lighting of Daniel Huston. Christopher Plummer designed the sound. The dance routines are simply fabulous.
Even with all these great songs, it’s the dancing that’ll put smiles on your face. The entire cast comes together to do a HUGE Finale for each of the two acts. Do not leave before the house lights come up, or you might miss these spectacular displays. Girl Crazy runs in repertory through 8/10 at their usual venue – Freedlander Theatre on the campus of Wooster College. Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim opens on Thu 6/27. For tickets go to ohiolightopera.org.
[Written by Kelly Ferjutz]
Wooster, OH 44691
Wooster, OH 44691